Pondicherry Tourism Overview

The Union Territory of Pondicherry with a 32 km long coastline on the Coromandel Coast is a well-planned French Boulevard town. A perfect family holiday destination, it has everything that helps one to relax and enjoy. The numerous palm-fringed beaches, splendid seafront resorts, beautiful backwaters, wondrous opportunities and facilities for water sports centre, fabulous tiny fishing villages and hamlets and handy harbor make it a much-beloved tourist spot. Its highlights are the pier, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the world-class Auroville city and the internationally acclaimed Yoga centers. Besides the city of Pondicherry as its capital lying 162 km South of Chennai, the other regions included in this Union Territory are Karaikal, 132 km South of Pondicherry, Yanam in the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradhesh and Mahe in the Cannanore District of Kerala. There are no records to indicate the exact origin of Pondicherry. According to the legends, in the ancient times, the town was once called Vedapuri because of its renowned Vedic culture. It was also the abode of the great saint known as Sage Agastya. His Ashram is said to stand on the same site as that of Sri Aurobindo Ashram today by Prof. Jonvean Dubrouil, the French archeologist. 6 km from here, the excavations at Arikamedu have brought forth the ruins of the ancient port town with trade connections with Rome and Greece dating back to the period between 100 BC and 100 AD. Chola coins dating back to 11th and 12th centuries have also been found here. The above artefacts are displayed from the excavations at Arikamedu can be viewed in the Pondicherry Museum. Whatever is the past the modern Pondicherry was born with the arrival of the French in 1673 who ruled for about 281 years in the area and a profound influence of Southern France can still be seen in the region.

Referred to as Pondy and also known as Puducherry , Pondicherry is a quiet , shady and clean district which is a lot popular among large chunk of tourists. While journeying this place you will come across cobbled streets lined with colonial town houses. Pondicherry is speckled with numerous travel spots worth witnessing like Sri Aurobindo Ashram, French Quarter, Churches, Seafront, Puducherry Museum and Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple. If one talks about old Pondy it seems a lot tranquil while the newer part of town is typically South Indian.

There is a unique beauty in every corner which you will come across like in the down town restaurants, art galleries and colonial Ville. The upscale lifestyle and heart-warming people will totally amaze the first timers. Pondicherry is an ever welcoming place to visit and if you are eager to explore its captivating vicinities, avail Pondicherry Tours and let the traveller in you live to the fullest.